“What is "grace"? It is God's own life, shared by us. God's life is love. Deus caritas est. By grace we are able to share in the infinitely selfless love of Him Who is such pure actuality that He needs nothing and therefore cannot conceivably exploit anything for selfish ends. Indeed, outside of Him there is nothing, and whatever exists exists by His free gift of its being, so that one of the notions that is absolutely contradictory to the perfection of God is selfishness.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Thomas Merton, the concept of "grace" is explored as God's own life being shared with humanity. Merton describes God's life as love, emphasizing the infinite selflessness of God's love. He argues that grace allows us to participate in this selfless love, which is characterized by pure actuality and the absence of any selfish motives. Merton suggests that selfishness is contradictory to the perfection of God, as everything exists by His free gift and there is nothing outside of Him. This quote reflects Merton's profound understanding of the relationship between grace, love, and selflessness in the context of God's nature.
Modern Relevance of Thomas Merton's Perspective on Grace
In today's fast-paced and often self-centered world, the concept of grace as described by Thomas Merton holds profound significance. Merton emphasizes that grace is the sharing of God's own selfless love, which stands in stark contrast to the prevalent culture of selfishness and exploitation. This reminder of the infinite and pure love of God can serve as a guiding light for individuals seeking to cultivate compassion, generosity, and selflessness in their interactions with others and the world around them.
Understanding the concept of "grace" through the words of Thomas Merton
“What is "grace"? It is God's own life, shared by us. God's life is love. Deus caritas est. By grace we are able to share in the infinitely selfless love of Him Who is such pure actuality that He needs nothing and therefore cannot conceivably exploit anything for selfish ends. Indeed, outside of Him there is nothing, and whatever exists exists by His free gift of its being, so that one of the notions that is absolutely contradictory to the perfection of God is selfishness.” - Thomas Merton
Reflection Questions:
Reflect on the concept of "grace" as described by Thomas Merton. - How do you understand the idea of God's life being love and grace being the sharing of that life? - In what ways do you experience or witness selfless love in your life? - How do you personally define selfishness, and how does it contradict the perfection of God as described by Merton? - How can you cultivate a mindset of grace and selflessness in your relationships and interactions with others?
Similar quotes
“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”
“Nature exists for man to exploit for his own ends, while the end of man himself is nothing else but to serve God, to be grateful to Him, and to worship Him alone.”
“He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our resume but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.”
“Man depends on God for all things: God depends on man for one. Without man's love God does not exist as God, only as creator, and love is the one thing no one, not even God himself, can command. It is a free gift or it is nothing. And it is most itself, most free, when it is offered in spite of suffering, of injustice, and of death . . . The justification of the injustice of the universe is not our blind acceptance of God's inexplicable will, nor our trust in God's love, his dark and incomprehensible love, for us, but our human love, notwithstanding anything, for him.”
“[God] loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us.”